A court in eastern China sentenced Bo Xilai -- the former rising star of the ruling Communist Party who fell from power amid a scandal involving murder , betrayal and financial skullduggery -- to life in prison Sunday .

Bo received the life sentence for bribe-taking , as well as 15 years for embezzlement and seven years for abuse of power .

The sentences , which came shortly after the guilty verdicts , surprised some analysts .

`` I 'm actually a little bit surprised . I think it 's a very strong verdict '' compared to some previous cases , said Yuhua Wang , a political science professor at University of Pennsylvania .

`` He was a political star before falling from grace . He was ... the son of a revolutionary veteran . His father was Mao 's colleague , '' he added .

During the hearings of the politically sensitive trial that took place over several days last month , Bo , 64 , denied the charges and strongly challenged the prosecution 's case against him , according to accounts published by the Jinan Intermediate People 's Court .

The closely watched trial was considered to be much more transparent than most cases in China . But international and independent journalists were n't allowed inside the courtroom , and doubts were raised about the fullness of the court 's version of events .

' I can bear the suffering '

Days before the court announced the date for delivering the verdict , Bo reiterated his innocence but said he anticipated a lengthy imprisonment in a letter written to his family .

`` I was dragged into this and really wronged , but the truth will come out one day , '' wrote Bo in a letter dated September 12 , referring to the bribes allegedly taken by his wife and other scandals involving her and her friends .

Read more : Five big moments from the trial

`` Meanwhile I will be waiting quietly in prison , '' Bo continued . `` Dad was thrown into prison multiple times in his lifetime and I will look up to him as my role model . ''

Bo 's late father , Bo Yibo , was a revolutionary contemporary of Chairman Mao Zedong and late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping . During the tumultuous Cultural Revolution that Mao launched in 1966 , however , the senior Bo was persecuted , tortured and imprisoned for over a decade . He was `` rehabilitated '' in 1979 and became one of the most influential senior politicians under Deng .

`` Dad and Mom have passed away , but their teachings are deeply ingrained in my mind , '' Bo wrote . `` I will never bring disgrace to them and their glory . I can bear the suffering no matter how great it is .

`` I have put Mom 's photo by my bed . With her by my side , I do n't feel lonely . ''

Timeline : The Bo scandal

A source with close ties to the Bo family confirmed to CNN the authenticity of the letter , which has been circulating on the Internet . She adds that the content online is only part of the original letter , which appears to be addressing the family members -- including a son and four siblings -- present in the courtroom during his trial .

Dramatic downfall

Bo 's trial brought to light a wealth of eye-opening details about the apparently lavish and emotionally fraught life of his family and inner circle , giving Chinese people insights into how some of the ruling elite live .

Analysis : Was Bo Xilai 's trial in China truly transparent ?

His glittering career , during which he drew both admirers and detractors for his populist policies , fell apart last year .

The son of a revolutionary veteran , Bo rose to power as a city mayor , provincial governor , minister of commerce and member of the Politburo , the powerful policy-making body of the Communist Party . He had been tipped to ascend farther up the party hierarchy .

A charismatic and urbane politician , Bo was credited with a spectacular , albeit brutal , crackdown on organized crime during his time as the top party official of Chongqing , a metropolis in southwestern China .

But when his deputy , Wang Lijun , walked into the U.S. Consulate in the city of Chengdu in February 2012 and told American diplomats that Bo 's wife , Gu Kailai , was involved in a murder case , Bo 's career began to unravel .

Read more : Corruption fight a political purge ?

Wang 's move precipitated Bo 's political demise . Soon after news of the events began to emerge , Bo was removed from his party posts .

A court found Gu guilty last year of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood in a Chongqing hotel room in 2011 . She was given a suspended death sentence .

The following month , Wang was convicted of bending the law for selfish ends , defection , abuse of power and bribe-taking . He received a 15-year prison sentence .

Wang and Gu both appeared as witnesses at Bo 's trial last month . Bo attacked their testimony and even claimed that Wang and Gu had been romantically involved .

Read more : Bo Xilai says former aide had crush on his wife

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`` I 'm actually a little bit surprised , '' an analyst says

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Court find Bo Xilai guilty of bribe-taking , embezzlement and abuse of power

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The one-time rising star of the Communist Party sentenced to life in prison

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A court found his wife guilty last year of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood